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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Hello all! Our tour through 20th century fashion comes to a close with the decade we are looking into today. However, the series itself has certainly not met its end! From now on we will be digging deeper into history, imitating the looks of earlier centuries. I won't get ahead of myself though - first we must peer into the styles of that wacky decade known as the 70's!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Wow, we've already made it to the 1960's! This sixth decade of fashion that we've explored together is probably the most vibrant and varied we've seen thus far. If all you can think of are hippie clothes, scroll down and you'll see why I like this era! Also....I have finally decided to show my face! *gasp*

Surprise!

1960's

The 1960's was a time of revolution and unrest. Subcultures, youth movements, and social reform defined the decade. With the changing times came new fashions. Upper class socialites, Mods, and Hippies all had their own distinctive look. What people wore was a reflection of how they viewed life in general.

A girl from the Mod culture might wear a brightly colored A-line dress and jacket with tall boots. Housewives could spend the day in floral dresses with boat necklines, then hold a dinner parties in sheath dresses and pearls. Society ladies might attend a formal event in full-skirted gowns with empire waists. Later in the era, a hippie girl could be seen wearing an ethnically inspired tunic with bell bottoms and bare feet. As I said, this was the era of variety!

Not being into hippie styles and miniskirts myself, I chose modest and classy outfits that still have a definite sixties look. The first is comprised of my new A-line skirt, a turtleneck, and tall, streamlined boots. In resemblance to the era, I wore bright punchy colors and opaque tights. I wore my hair long and (fairly) straight with a scarf-like headband to accessorize. It was also fun to do 60's inspired makeup!

Long coats as outerwear were all the rage in the 60's, so I planned this outfit around my streamlined brown coat. My ruffly white shirt reminded me of the era, while my straight denim made a timeless base. Again I wore my tall boots, this time with bright tights underneath.

Above you see my black sheath dress, which is a dead ringer for 60's garments! It looked perfect with the A-line plaid jacket that Mom and I recently got. Simple brown heels, a string of pearls, and a teased updo completed the look. Later, I exchanged the jacket and heels for a shrug and red wedges - black dresses are so versatile!

There you have it, ladies! I hope you had a pleasant time looking at my little blast from the past. Have a beautiful and blessed weekend! :)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. "

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

There's something new happening on Sunday Best! I have finally decided to start my own awkward and awesome posts! Reading other bloggers' "awk and awe"s has been fun for me, and I hope that mine will be just as amusing. :) For those of you who don't know what kind of post this is, I will tell you that it is a way for bloggers to share how their weeks have been going by making lists of what has been awkward (somewhat bad or just simply occurrences) and what has been awesome (good stuff ;) )!

Awkward:

* Making a new cookie recipe and watching it become the tiniest lump of dough I've ever seen, so that I have to make more.
* Pretending to get mad at a guy I saw who I thought was texting while driving (which is illegal here), and realizing that it was his steering wheel and not a cell phone I was seeing.
* Wondering why my camera wasn't working, then seeing that it was turned off.
* Hitting myself in the jaw with a pile of books.
* Photoshop being unreasonable as I try to crop the photos for this post.

Awesome:

* Playing with my new camera.
* Getting movies and a hair styling book at the library.
* Eating shortbread cookies produced by the tiny dough recipe.
* Finding out that I like the way high bun hairdos look on me.
* Wearing a new sweater (or is it a cardigan?) in one of my favorite colors (see below).

Above is the outfit I wore this Monday. Not only did I wear green, but I also wore a turquoise sweater my Mom recently found for me at a thrift store. Oh, how lovely the colors looked together! I also wore a denim skirt - I was badly in need of a new one - that my mum actually just made for me! All in all, it was a fun outfit to start the week with, as well as to celebrate Irish heritage with.

T-shirt ~ Thrifted; Sweater ~ Thrifted; Skirt ~ Homemade; Tights ~ Bought new from ?; Boots ~ Bought new from RossDo you want to see more awkward and awesome posts? Would you call my new thrift store item a sweater?

Monday, March 17, 2014

Those of you who follow me may have noticed a sad lack in my posting last week. Alas, I wrote only one post instead of two! How could I have fallen down on the job? Well, okay, it's not the worst thing in the world. ;) All the same, it is a situation that I hope to remedy.

To start this week off on the right foot, I am sharing with you an outfit that I wore last Sunday. It was put together around the skirt, which is a recent second-hand find. The color, length and cut of this skirt is superb! On first seeing it, I felt doubtful of its worth. After trying it on, I knew it was for me.

The top I chose to wear is a favorite button up of mine. Its floral print includes blossoms in a similar shade of blue as the skirt. The color of the infinity scarf I wore was also a near match. For warmth, I added oatmeal tights that corresponded well with my blouse. To keep off the rain, I threw on my faithful beige blazer and shod myself in brown boots. It was an ideal outfit to wear to church and then out on the (wet) town with friends. (By the way, I'm not trying to completely hide my arms in the photos, though the interesting gapping open of my jacket seems to suggest so O.o.)

Mom wore a darling outfit last Sunday too! The plaid jacket she's wearing is from the same consignment store in which I found my blue skirt. Doesn't it look cute with her orange and brown outfit? We thought our blue and orange skirts looked well together, if a little bright. ;)

It's rather windy here today, but last night's rain clouds are nowhere in sight as the sun shines brightly through the window. Yes, I believe that spring is on its way! It was the end of summer when I began blogging - over six months have already gone by! I guess time flies when you're having fun. :)

Do you think ourblue andorange go well together? Are you wearinggreenon St. Patty's day (I am...gotta show off that Irish heritage ;) )?

"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Hello dolls! Are you ready to see more retro fashions? Well, I certainly have some to show you today, so put on your glad rags and let's go back in time!

1950's

There are really many options when it comes to dressing in 50's inspired fashion. You can wear a dress, a skirt, or even pants. You can put on a sheath dress or a full-skirted frock. You can sport just about any shoe, and have a variety of hairdos to choose from. When coming up with attire for my 50's posts, there were many ideas swirling around! Below is the second set of outfits that I put together which show different styles of the era (if you didn't see the first two outfits, view here).

When I came to this part of the series, I knew that this coat must somehow be incorporated. Ever since coming into my possession, it has reminded me of the 50's. For this outfit, I wore it over a boat-neck sweater and pencil skirt that had the flavor of the era. To finish of the outfit, I simply had to add my quintessential pearls and heels. Voila!

The main part of this outfit is a cheerful dress that just happens to be the only one I've ever made! With its bright floral print, fitted bodice and full skirt, it has a vintage air about it. Boleros and wedges were both popular in the 50's, so adding these elements to my outfit made it retro and ready for spring!

P.S. The above and below photos were taken with my new camera. :D

Thus ends our tour through the 1950's. Our next stop is the 60's, and the gears of my mind are already turning with ideas! ;) I hope that you have been enjoying this series as much as I have!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Recently, I had the pleasure of buying a few new duds at a local consignment store. One of the items I bought was this lovely green blouse which I first wore this past Sunday. At Mom's suggestion, I paired it with my black pencil skirt (a good rule of thumb is to wear looser tops with straighter skirts and more fitted tops with flowing skirts). Then, I added my black oxfords and pearl necklace. I also tried a new style in my hair - it was probably the highest bun I've ever worn! A purple flower pin in my 'do finished my outfit and had me ready for church and a birthday party afterwards.

I don't know about you gals, but I've had quite the week! Yes, I say every week is a busy week, but it holds true every time! In addition to the usual events, the past few days have been filled with fun highlights that occur none to often. On Wednesday I ordered my long-awaited DSLR camera (prepare for better blog photos), and yesterday I enjoyed a sunshiny ride on my friend's horse! Now I'm preparing to plunge head first into another full week of life. :)

What were the highlights of your week? Do you enjoy horseback riding?

Do you prefer high buns, low buns or no updos at all?

"But those who wait on theLordShall renewtheirstrength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint."~Isaiah 40:31

May the Lord renew your strength and mine as we continue on our journey of serving Him on earth!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

"Part one?!" you ask. Yes, we have come to one of my favorite decades of 20th century fashion, and my inspiration abounds. Why not throw in a two-parter to keep the series going as long as possible? ;) Without further ado I give you part one of our journey into the 1950's.

1950's

The 1950's is a decade that we in the U.S. often look on as being the "good old days" of American existence. Our economy was good, the World War was a memory, families flourished in comfortable homes, and children played safely in their neighborhoods. However, beneath all the apparent ease were hard times and social revolutions. Racial segregation, the "forgotten war" in Korea, and the rise of subcultures were also part of the era.

The different aspects of life had an affect on what people wore. The typical woman of the 1950's wore garments with tiny waists and long, full skirts. She might also dress in closer fitting pencil skirts and sheath dresses. There were also swing-back dresses and shirt dresses. Whatever she wore, a society lady would certainly be wearing something feminine without the stiffness and squared shoulders of the previous decade. Pearls, heeled pumps, and immaculate hairdos were a must for an elegant lady.
At the same time, the lady's teenage daughter might be a bobby-soxer decked out in a poodle skirt, cardigan, saddle shoes and the the famous white socks. Then again, she might be part of a subculture and wear tight black pants with a sloppy sweater and a beret. You see, after the second World War ended, youth began to have their own fashions in {opposition} to what their parents wore.

My full wool skirt, button up white blouse, black heels, and high ponytail make a base for two 50's looks. The items needed for these outfits should be fairly easy for most gals to find from what they already own. The first look has a Roman Holiday flavor with the shirt's sleeves rolled up and scarf tied under the collar. The second look has more of a teenage flair with a little pink cardigan thrown on over the shirt. Putting the scarf in my hair adds another retro touch. Unfortunately, I don't have the right kind of shoes, or I would have worn them with white socks. ;)

I must admit that this isn't an outfit which everyone easily throws together from what they already have, but I just had to show you! :) For my high school graduation ceremony, I wanted to wear a sophisticated gown in the style of the 50's. I designed this dress, which my mother made by tweaking a modern pattern. I'm a big fan of the sweetheart neckline and chiffon overlay! To complete my vintage look, I styled my hair up in a French twist (or rather, my off-the-cuff long hair version of a twist...), put on a pearl necklace, and stepped into my silver heels!

I hope that you enjoyed learning about 1950's fashion! I was in my element, in case you couldn't tell. ;) My next historical post will have two more 50's outfits. Until then, stay stylin'!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

The aroma of freshly cut grass filled the mild air as residents of the neighborhood took opportunity to groom their lawns. Only a few wispy clouds were held in the azure sky above. Two ladies and a cheerful little dog stepped briskly down the sidewalk. Today was Saturday, and an ideal day to be outdoors.